MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of June 14-21, 2004, Big Island police arrested 19 motorists for drunk driving. One of the drivers was involved in a traffic crash, and one was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 493 DUI arrests, compared to 431 during the same period last year, an increase of 14 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District

Weekly Total

Year to Date

Hamakua North Hilo South Hilo Puna Ka’u Kona South Kohala North Kohala

1 1 1 2 1 12 1 0

9 5 136 63 7 234 30 9

Island Total

19

493

There have been 1,184 major accidents so far this year, compared to 1,039 during the same period last year, an increase of 14 percent.

There have been 22 traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 14 for the same period last year, an increase of 57 percent. There have been two fatalities attributed to drunk driving so far this year, compared to four at this time last year, a decrease of 50 percent. There have been four drug-related fatalities so far this year, compared to two fatalities at the same time last year, an increase of 100 percent.